Toolless barrel nut assembly

ABSTRACT

A barrel nut assembly with an improved attachment paradigm may feature a collet body circumscribed by a tightening band and release lever such that actuation of the release lever will selectively loosen or tighten the band and collet such that the barrel nut assembly may be positioned over or off a joint between a barrel and receiver in a firearm.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Application claims priority as a non-provisional perfection of prior filed U.S. application No. 62/730,840, filed Sep. 13, 2018, and incorporates the same by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of firearms and more particularly relates to a barrel nut assembly to hold a barrel onto the receiver of a firearm and which may be tightened and loosened without tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Of particular interest in most firearms is the barrel, the tube out of which the projectile is launched. The barrel is usually cantileverally mounted upon a structure called the receiver and is adjacent the firing chamber located within the receiver. Some types of firearms have a barrel integrated with the receiver, but many have a barrel that is discrete from the receiver. By having a discrete receiver and barrel assembly, the barrel may be changed when damaged or when a specific feature is desired. Removal of the barrel also facilitates cleaning. There are many manners in which the barrel may be secured to the receiver, some using a structure commonly referred to as a “barrel nut.” One is by placing an end of the barrel into an externally threaded throat in the receiver such that a flange or chamfer of the barrel abuts the outer surface of the receiver, and then tightening a barrel nut about the flange and threaded throat. This method is commonly employed by the AR15 and similar platforms. Other systems may employ a threaded barrel which is simply screwed into the receiver and then secured with a barrel nut over the joint. In such cases, the barrel may be internal or external of the receiver. In either manner, the barrel is securely seated in alignment with the firing chamber and receiver. For understandable reasons, the barrel nut must not only securely hold the barrel, in a cantilevered position, but also should be easily removed. Removal presents a problem if a proper barrel nut wrench or other tool is not handy. Removal may also be problematic if the barrel nut sticks and the friction is too great to overcome.

The present invention is a clamp-based toolless barrel nut assembly. Like a traditional barrel nut, the barrel nut assembly will fit over the barrel flange and seat about the throat of the receiver. When tightened, the barrel nut assembly will then securely hold the barrel in place while providing a total loosening of the joint by the use of a lever.

The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the barrel nut assembly of the present invention allows for toolless installation and removal of the barrel nut assembly and associated barrel without sacrificing the secure hold necessary to use in keeping a barrel cantileverally positioned on a firearm receiver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of barrel nuts, an improved barrel nut assembly may provide an assembly that meets the following objectives: is reasonably inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, and provides a secure hold of a barrel onto a receiver As such, a new and improved barrel nut assembly may comprise a collet with a circumferential tightening band and a quick-release camming lever in order to accomplish these objectives.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a barrel installed on a representative receiver.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the barrel and receiver of FIG. 1, taken along line II-II.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the barrel and receiver assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a barrel nut assembly, used in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the barrel nut assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the barrel nut assembly of FIG. 5, taken along line VI-VI.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the barrel nut assembly of FIG. 5, taken along line VII-VII.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the barrel nut assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a left elevation of the barrel nut assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a right elevation of the barrel nut assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the barrel nut assembly of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 12-15 are alternate rear perspective views of the barrel nut assembly of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the barrel nut assembly is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

With reference to FIG. 1, a barrel 10 is secured to a receiver 20. The illustrated barrel 10 and receiver 20 are used generically to illustrate the environment in which the barrel nut assembly 30 is utilized. The illustrated barrel 10 and receiver 20 utilize an externally threaded barrel interfacing in the throat of the receiver 20. It is to be readily understood that any other interface which would allow the use of a barrel nut or similar structure may utilize the present invention. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the threaded barrel end 12 fits in the throat 22 of the receiver 20 and the barrel nut assembly 30 fits over the joint. The barrel nut assembly 30 may be manufactured to receive any external geometry of the joint, including a flange.

In FIGS. 4-7, the basic parts of the barrel nut assembly are shown in greater detail. A collet body 34 supports a plurality of fingers 33 with ribbed internal surfaces 35. These ribbed fingers 33 abut a ring 32 which helps distribute pressure evenly about the receiver's throat opening 22. About the collet body 32 is a circumferential tightening band 36 which is completed by bolt 37 and nut 35. Release lever 38 is pivotably mounted 39 on the head of bolt 37 at a bulbous end. The circumference of the bulbous end has a varying radius (R1 to R2) as measured from the center of pivot pin 39 so that as the release lever is actuated to tighten the circumferential tightening band 36, the radius increases and the bulbous end of the release lever 38 pulls the bolt 37 and associated nut 35 against the circumferential tightening band 36 to reduce the band's overall inner circumference. The process is reversed to loosen the circumferential tightening band 36. The band 36 is positioned about at least a portion of the fingers 33 to secure the barrel nut assembly 30 over the joint. The ribs 31 on the fingers 33 may be provided to interface with any external threading on the barrel 10 or receiver throat 22 and does provide additional friction should such threading be absent.

The materials from which the barrel nut assembly may be made include metals, polymers, and composite materials, with any type of material being possible for use in any individual component. The inner surface of the collet body 34 may accommodate any shape of barrel/receiver interface in order to fit a given firearm platform. When assembled, as shown in FIGS. 8-15, the barrel nut 30 provides a tight, unobtrusive, connector to secure the barrel to the receiver of a firearm.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A barrel nut comprising: a. a collet body; b. a circumferential tightening band positioned about the collet body; c. a nut and bolt completing the circumferential tightening band; d. a tightening lever positioned proximate a head of the bolt; and e. a distribution ring.
 2. The barrel nut of claim 1, the collet body further comprising internal ribs and a plurality of fingers forming one end of the collet, abutting the ring.
 3. The barrel nut of claim 2, the tightening lever having a bulbous end abutting the bolt, said end having a varying radii of thickness from a bore provided as a pivot point of the lever. 